Kaholokula, Rosemary: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to disclose political advertising to include information for who paid for the ad. (August 2018)

Case

#39963

Respondent

Rosemary Kaholokula

Complainant

Scott Holley

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its initial review of the complaint filed by Robert Holley on August 14, 2018. The complaint alleged that Rosemary Kaholokula, a first-time candidate seeking the office of Superior Court Judge in the Skagit County Superior Court, may have violated RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to properly disclose sponsorship information on political advertisements posted on a Facebook page.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations, the statutes and rules, the Facebook page referenced in the complaint, and the responses from the Committee to Elect Rosemary Kaholokula (Campaign).

Based on our findings, staff has determined that in this instance, the failure to properly disclose sponsorship identification on Facebook political advertisements does not amount to a material violation warranting further investigation since:

(1) Rosemary Kaholokula was a first-time candidate for public office in 2018;

(2) The Campaign was inexperienced with sponsorship identification requirements;

(3) The C-4 reports for the political advertising expenditures were timely filed; and

(4) Rosemary Kaholokula promptly corrected the noncompliance after the Campaign received guidance and clarification from PDC staff.

PDC Staff are reminding Rosemary Kaholokula about the importance of accurately and timely disclosing sponsorship identification on political ads as required by RCW 42.17A.320 and WAC 390-18-030.

The PDC has closed the matter, and will not be conducting a more formal investigation into your complaint or pursuing further enforcement action in this case.

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

August 27, 2018

Areas of Law

Areas of law not found